It’s Summer Time!

Written by Engel & Völkers on 8/4/16

The strong Engel & Völkers brand is represented in 36 countries and has been growing successfully for nearly 40 years. In the meantime, the brand employs more than 8,000 people. Does this leave any time for relaxation? We asked four of the members of the board of Engel & Völkers AG in Hamburg where and how they spend their summer holiday.

Sven Odia, CEO

For me, it’s all about the sun, beach and sea. I will be going to Mallorca again, which is also where I began my successful career at Engel & Völkers. I am delighted to return to this beautiful island which has had such an impact on my professional development. Of course my family will be joining me too, and some longtime friends will be visiting us on the island for a few days!

What type of holiday can you do without in the future?

Definitely long-haul flights with small children! This only makes me think about the return flight for the entire holiday.

The book I will be taking along...

...is the biography of Robert Redford, which Michael Feeny Callan wrote after more than 14 years of research and preparation. In it he describes Robert Redford’s withdrawal from Hollywood and his way of not bowing to the rules of the film industry.

Christian Evers, Member of the Board – Operations

I will be heading to Ibiza this year! The island is perfect for relaxing, but still offers a wide variety of things to do. I will be joined by my family as well as friends.

What can you not do without on your holiday?

My swimming trunks, my smartphone and charger and also, unfortunately, my glasses! I need them because I love reading newspapers and magazines in my spare time.

What was your most enjoyable experience whilst on holiday?

There were so many, but I think what was really special was my first encounter with a 60-year old elephant in South Africa and diving with manta rays in the Maldives.

Kai Enders, Member of the Board – Franchise

I travel to Switzerland regularly on business, and every time I’m there I realise just how beautiful it is. But my wife and I have never been there on holiday. Well, that is about to change, and we are looking forward to a beautiful few days in Ticino and in the mountains.

What do you do in your holiday?

I like variety. We always stay in more than one place, as this allows for a more versatile holiday experience. Strolling along the lakeside promenade, hiking in the mountains, excursions - I am looking forward to a combination of activities, relaxation and sightseeing.

Do you read when on holiday?

Definitely. I will be taking along a book by Guy de Maupassant. In his newly translated diary “Out at Sea”, he describes a sailing trip along the Mediterranean coast in 1887. According to the preface, nothing much happened there. It is all about water, sun and clouds. I think that sounds like the right kind of book for a summer holiday.

What would you never do again on your holiday?

Well, I used to occasionally go on a pure beach holiday. But nowadays, I don’t find the idea of spending two weeks at the beach all that enticing.

Thilo von Trotha, Member of the Board – Finance

I will be going to Carinthia, Austria, for a week with my family and my brother’s family. First, we will go hiking in the mountains and engage in water sports, then we will relax in a holiday home in Schleswig-Holstein with friends.

What is your secret recipe for a successful holiday?

What I need in order to return refreshed is time with my family and a lot of sports and relaxation.

What book are you taking along?

I will be reading “Freakonomics” by Steven Levitt. The author, a young professor, joins forces with journalist friend Stephen Dubner to come up with astonishing and comical answers to many of society’s problems.